MNU Receives $300K from Sunderland Foundation for New Student Center

Nov. 8, 2016 - by Carol Best

The proposed Cunningham Student Center is part of the new Bright Futures: the campaign for MNU, a three-priority, multi-year campaign for $61 million. The Sunderland Foundation has just awarded MNU $300,000 toward the construction of this new, multi-use building.

The state-of-the-art, 50,000-square-foot Cunningham Student Center will replace the nearly 50-year-old Campus Center building. The center will feature spaces for meeting, a larger, enhanced dining area, outdoor areas, a fitness center and the campus store. The second floor will house Enrollment Development, Student Financial Aid Services and Student Development with space specifically designed for visiting prospective students and their families.

The Sunderland Foundation’s generous support will significantly assist in providing the resources necessary to realize our bold aspirations and propel us forward into a new chapter of the university’s 50-year history,” says Todd Garrett, director of development and corporate engagement.

The Sunderland Foundation has supported two previous capital projects at MNU: one for the Cook Center athletic and academic facility (1996-1997) and another for the Bell Cultural Events Center (2005-2006). The latest gift toward the student center is the largest gift from the foundation so far.

“The university has been privileged to receive The Sunderland Foundation’s generous support for both of these campus facilities and now this grant for the Cunningham Student Center. We are so grateful for The Sunderland Foundation’s commitment to making a significant impact on MNU’s mission to transform student lives,” Garrett says.

For more information on Bright Futures: the campaign for MidAmerica Nazarene University, visit BrightFutures.mnu.edu.